Apparatus having a controllable vent



Sept. 24, 1963 A. D. MAST 3,104,935

APPARATUS HAVING A CONTROLLABLE VENT Filed July 24, 1959 INVENTOR A. D. MAST BY gw W ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,104,965 APPARATUS HAVING A CONTROLLABLE VENT Aquila D. Mast, Lancaster, Pa, assignor to Dalfin Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed July 24, 1959, Ser. No. 829,332 2 Claims. (Cl. 55-417) This invention relates generally to apparatus and devices provided with controllable vents, and is particularly concerned with apparatus of the separator type wherein particulate material is to be separated from a gas stream or flow in which such material is entrained.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved vent control for operation in response to a pressure medium such as, for example, a pneumatic medium or a hydraulic medium entering a separation chamber through an inlet passageway extending tangentially of the chamher.

It is a further object of the invention to provide improved apparatus of the aforesaid type with a chamber wherein a fluid medium received under pressure is accommodated by venting the chamber to the ambient atmosphere.

Still another object of the invention is .to provide an improved mechanism for controlling the closing and opening of vents or discharge openings in separating apparatus operating in accordance with the preceding objects.

Briefly, to achieve the above and other of its objectives, the invention contemplates the provision of a vent cover having a new and special mechanical control arrangement attached thereto, which control is responsive to the pressure of a medium being fed to an associated separation chamber of a centrifugal separator as dust collector type mechanism.

The preferred embodiment of the invention contemplates utilizing a control vane disposed movably and normally transversely in the separator inlet conduit for purposes of adjusting the venting of the separation chamber in response to pressure exerted on the vane by an incoming gas flow having particulate material entrained therein.

The above objects of the invention, as well as features and advantages thereof, will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred and illustrative embodiments which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of apparatus provided with a controllable vent in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 is illustrated a cylinder defining a separation chamber 18 and having a longitudinal axis 12 and defining an inlet opening 14 and an end or discharge opening 16, which may be hereinafter termed a vent. The vent 16 may possibly be co-axial with the cylinder 10 or may define an axis which is spaced from but parallel to the axis 12 of the cylinder 10. Alternatively, the vent 16 may be positioned as desired with respect to the cylinder 10 as long as it provides a discharge opening for the chamber 18 and is adapted for being covered in a manner as will be indicated hereinafter.

Connected to the cylinder 10 is an inlet conduit 20 which is adapted to convey a pressure medium, such as a pneumatic medium or a hydraulic medium, to the chamber 18 via the inlet opening 14. The inlet conduit 20, as shown, has a forward end portion 20(a) extending tangentially of the adjacent side wall 10' of the cylinder 10, and a rear end portion 20(b) curving convexly ice into the adjacent side wall 10 and terminating at the inlet opening 14.

It will be appreciated that if, for example, the cylinder 16 defines essentially a closed separation chamber 18, a pressure medium or gas stream having particulate material entrained therein, travelling in the direction of arrow 22 will be unable to enter the chamber '18 efficiently unless this chamber is vented to atmosphere or, at least, is vented to a zone of a pressure less than that of the incoming pressure medium.

For this reason, vent opening 16 is provided with a cover 24, which cover is rigidly aflixed to an arm or rod 26, which, in turn, is supported by a bracket 28 on a pivot 30.

The cover 24, as explained more fully below, is so operated by the arrangement hereof, as to automatically close the vent opening and prevent entry with the chamber of undesired material, such as, for example, dirt, snow, rain, or the like. Centrifugal separators of the general type here under consideration have long been known, as has the fact that venting is desirable. (See for example, US. Patent No. 451,139, issued to Smith on April 28, 1891.) However, automatic and controlled venting by simple mechanical means as herein provided affords advantages over mere venting because the automatic control allows for continuous adjustment of the venting, and closes the separation chamber and thereby any outlet device conventionally associated with the chamber to receive and process the particulate material collected in the chamber.

Now, referring again to the drawings, and more specifically to the controlled venting arrangement hereof, cover 24- is preferably a flat or planar disc which moves in its own plane transverse to the axis 12 of cylinder 10 between positions whereat the vent 16 is selectively opened (as indicated by the dash line 24) or closed (as indicated by the solid line).

To the bracket 28 is rigidly connected a rod 32. On rod 32 is aflixed a flap or control vane 34, the function of which is .to respond to pressure of an incoming flow in the inlet conduit 20 so as to cause a pivotal movement of the cover 24 about the pivot 30. More particularly, rod 32 is supported on an internal portion 36 of the associated pivot and extends through chamber 18 into inlet conduit 20 whereat it supports flap or control vane 34. On the other hand, arm 26 is connected to an external portion 38 of the pivot mechanism.

To maintain the vent 16 normally closed, a spring or resilient device 40 is connected between cover 24 and a pin 42 on cylinder 10. A hole '44 is provided in cover 24 to accommodate one end of the spring. Cover 24 is also provided with a lip or rim 46 which moves into abutting relationship with a rim 48 provided over a portion of the periphery of vent 16. Members 46 and 48 limit the action of spring 40 such that cover 24 can only move counter-clockwise around pivot 30 to the extent required to cover vent 16.

In operation, an incoming gas stream having particulate material entrained therein enters inlet conduit 20 and exerts a force against control vane 34 and when sulficient pressure is available, the control is moved to position 34. During this movement, cover 24 is moved to position 24', and the vent 16 is opened so that chamber 18 can accommodate the incoming stream. When this pressure is reduced beneath the strength of spring 48 (the strength of which can be selected as desired), cover 24 is urged to the position whereat vent 16 is closed and the chamber 18 is then completely sealed off.

In summary, the invention provides in a centrifugal type separator a vent control which operates in response to the pressure of the incoming gas stream having parauoaeee ticulate material entrained therein which is to be separated therefrom. Funther, improved apparatus is provided so that the incoming gas stream received under pressure can be accommodated by a confined or substantially confined chamber. Still further, the invention provides an improved mechanism for controlling the closing and opening of the vent opening.

7 There will now be obvious to those skilled in the art many modifications and variations of the structures set forth. These modifications and variations will not, however, depart from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a separating apparatus of the character described adapted to receive a gas stream having entrained particles therein and separate such particles therefrom, and including a separating chamber having top and side walls, a vent opening in the top wall thereof, an inlet passageway for receiving said gas stream, and having a forward end portion extending tangentially of the sidewalls of said separating chamber, and a rear end portion curving convexly into the side walls of said chambet to introduce a flow circumferentially of said separating chamber; a cover plate for said vent opening; first arm means mounting said cover plate for movement be tween a first extreme operating position where said cover plate closes said vent opening to a second extreme operating position where said cover plate opens said vent opening; a vane disposed transversely in said inlet passageway; second arm means mounting said vane for movement in response to pressures exerted thereon by said gas stream from a first position where said vane blocks said passageway by a predetermined amount to a second position where said vane blocks said passageway by an amount less than said predetermined amount; a mechanical connection means forming part of said first and second arm means for moving said first arm means and thereby said cover plate proportionately toward said second position thereof simultaneously with and in response to movement of said vane toward said second position thereof caused by pressures exerted on said vane by said gas stream, means for continuously simultaneously urging said cover plate toward said first position thereof and said vane toward said first position thereof, regardless of the position of said cover plate whereby movement of said vane between said first and second positions thereof in response to pressures exerted thereon by said gas stream causes proportional movement of said cover plate and corresponding proportional opening and closing of said vent opening, said means for biasing comprising a spring means having one end fixed to said top wall and the other end fixed to said cover plate, and cooperating stop means carried respectively by said cover plate and said top wall for preventing movement of said cover plate past said first position under the biasing action of said spring means.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second arm means comprise rods fixed respectively to said cover plate and said vane, wherein said mechanical connection comprises a bracket, and means pivotally mounting said bracket, and wherein said rods are fixed to said bracket for pivotal movement therewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 451,139 Smith Apr. 28, 1891 532,389 McNaughton et a1 Jan. 8, 1895 703,936 Lynch July 1, 1902 2,197,473 Jackson et al Apr. 16, 1940 2,887,178 Larsson May 19, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 279,160 Great Britain May 10, 1928 

1. IN COMBINATTION WITH A SEPARATING APPARATUS OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A GAS STREAM HAVING ENTRAINED PARATICLES THEREIN AND SEPARATE SUCH PARTICLES THEREFROM, AND INCLUDING A SEPARATING CHAMBER HAVING TOP AND SIDE WALLS, A VENT OPENING IN THE TOP WALL THEREOF, AND INLET PASSAGEWAY FOR RECEIVING SAID GAS STREAM, AND HAVING A FORWARD END PORTION EXTENDING TANGENTIALLY OF THE SIDEWALLS OF SAID SEPARATING CHAMBER, AND A REAR END PORTION CURVING CONVEXLY INTO THE SIDE WALLS OF SAID CHAMBER TO INTRODUCE A FLOW CIRCUMFERENTIALLY OF SAID SEPARATING CHAMBER; A COVER PLATE FOR SAID VENT OPENING; FIRST ARM MEANS MOUNTING SAID COVER PLATE FOR MOVEMENT BETEWEEN A FIRST EXTREME OPERATING POSITION WHERE SAID COVER PLATE CLOSES SAID VENT OPENING TO A SECOND EXTREME OPERATING POSITION WHERE SAID COVER PLATE OPENS SAID VENT OPENING; A VANE DISPOSED TRANSVERSELY IN SAID INLET PASSAGEWAY; SECOND ARE MEANS MOUNTING SAID VANE FOR MOVEMENT IN RESPONSE TO PRESSURES EXERTED THEREON BY SAID GAS STREAM FROM A FIRST POSITION WHERE SAID VANE BLOCKS SAID PASSAGEWA BY A PREDETERMINED AMOUNT TO A SECOND POSITION WHERE SAID VANE BLOCKS SAID PASSAGEWAY BY AN AMOUNT LESS THAN SAID PREDETERMINED AMOUNT; A MECHANICAL CONNECTION MEANS FORMING PART OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND ARM MEANS FOR MOVING SAID FIRST ARM MEANS AND THEREBY SAID COVER PLATE PROPORTIONATELY TOWARD SAID SECOND POSITION THEREOF SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH AND IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF SAIDVANE TOWARD SAID SECOND POSITION THEREOF CAUSED BY PRESSURES EXERTED ON SAID VANE BY SAID GAS STREAM, MEANS FOR CONTINUOUSLY SIMULTANEOUSLY URGING SAID COVER PLATE TOWARD SAID FIRST POSITION THEREOF AND SAID VANE TOWARD SAID FIRST POSITION THEREOF, REGARDLESS OF THE POSITION OF SAID COVER PLATE WHEREBY MOVEMENT OF SAID VANE BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS THEREOF IN RESPONSE TO PRESSURES EXERTED THEREON BY SAID GAS STREAM CAUSED PROPORTIONAL MOVEMENT OF SAID COVER PLATE AND CORRESPONDING PROPORTIONAL OPENING AND CLOSING OF SAID VENT OPENING, SAID MEANS FOR BIASING COMPRISING A SPRING MEANS HAVING ONE END FIXED TO SAID TOP WALL AND THE OTHER END FIXED TO SAID COVER PLATE, AND COOPERATING STOP MEANS CARRIED RESPECTIVELY BY SAID COVER PLATE AND SAID TOP WALL FOR PREVENTING MOVEMENT OF SAID COVER PLATE PAST SAID FIRST POSITION UNDER THE BIASING ACTION OF SAID SPRING MEANS. 